Current-motor.



G. A. MASON.

GURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, 1907.

1,002,417. Patented Sept. 5,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

c 000000 IA PLANOGRAPH CO.,\VASHINC\TOI\ n 'G. A. MASON.

CURRENT MOTOR.

AIPLIOATION FILED JAN. 25, 1907.

Patented Sept. 5,1911.

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA C- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ARTHUR MASON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CURRENT-MOTOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ARTHUR Mason, a citizen of the United States, residing at 306 Pacific Block, Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Current-Motors, of which the fol lowing is a clear and concise specification.

My invention relates to Water-Wheels or current motors of the type adapted to utilize the power in relatively slow running streams and is preferably mounted on a pair of scows which may be moored in the current near the place of application of power received from said wheel or motor.

The objects of my invention are to provide a means for utilizing the current of a stream to generate the desired power and to afford a means for governing the device substantially as illustrated and hereinafter more fully set forth.

Another object is to provide a safety checking device to prevent the several parts from being lost, due to a break in the chains, thirdly to take up the wear and to raise the working parts out of the current to facilitate repairing as well as for moving to other parts of the stream.

I accomplish these as Well as minor objects by the construction now preferred and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing one of the scows removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the end or drive sprockets showing the trip hook and brake. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the wedge block. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the blades. Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the transverse frames. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the raising ratchet. Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of one of the attachment joints of my device. Fig. 12 is a side elevation and partial section of one of the .center braces.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the accompanying drawings.

I have shown a scow 1 secured to a scow 2 by means of laterals 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 each of the said scows being provided with a drop wall 8 which terminates at the up stream Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 25, 1907.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911. Serial No. 354,130.

end in diagonal surface from the surface between the scows to the up stream end of the surface of the said scows toward the banks of said stream thus forming a divergent surface between the said scows at their up stream end to force a greater amount of water against the blades 9 which are secured to chains 10, 11 and 12 which run on the sprocket wheels 13 and 11 as well as idlers 15 which are all mounted on a framework 16, the said framework being adjustably secured to the scows 1 and 2 by means of brace guides 17 and ratchets 18 which are secured to pinions 19 and are operated by levers 20 adapted to assist in lowering the said framework 16 and parts attached thereto the said pinions 19 being adapted to intermesh with the racks 20 which are secured to lateral frames 23. It will be seen that if the framework becomes jaimned that said ratchet wheels may be operated to force the portion caught downwardly. I have also provided an auxiliary, means for raising said framework 16 comprising shafts, 21, having one end of chains 22 being secured thereto, the opposite end of said chains 22 being secured to lateral frames 23 Which form a part of the framework 16, the said shaft 21 is revolved to wind the said chains 22 thereon by cranks 24. It may also be desired to raise the scows 1 and 2 to change the disposition of the blades 9 relative to the Water-line of the stream and I have provided pumps 25 adapted to reduce water which may be stored in said scows 1 and 2 for the purpose above set forth.

The sprocket wheels 14 are preferably rigidly secured to a shaft 26, said shaft 26 as well as shaft 26 which are provided with brakes 27 rigidly secured thereto and provided with brake bands 28 which are secured by means of the pins 28 to the bearings 29 which are adapted to journal said shafts 26 and 26 as well as to secure levers 30 which are adapted to clamp said bands 28 on said brakes 27. The ends of the said levers are preferably connected to a trip rest 31 adapted to assist the trip-hook 32 in preventing the weight 33 from gravitating, thus causing the levers 30 to set the brakes heretofore set forth. The trip-hook is operated by a connecting line 341: which is secured to the weighted roll 35 which is adapted to rest on the upper surface of said chains 10, 11 and 12 thus operating only when said chains 10, Hand 12 have become broken. It is obvious that if the lower portion of the chains 10, 11 and 12 which carry the blades 9 which are submerged will be more apt to break than any other portion and the free ends after being separated will gravitate thus allowing said weighted roll 35 to drop and jerk the trip-hook 32 from the trip-rest 31 thus permitting the weight 33 to set the brakes 27 thus stopping my device and preventing the chains 10, 11 and 12 from being lost.

I have shown a means for governing my device comprising a ball governor 36 driven from the shaft 26 adapted to raise and lower a head gate 37 by means of a lever and quad rant 38 which is adapted to intermesh with the rack 39 being operated by said ball governor 36; said gate 37 being guided by antifriction rolls 40 and provided with a counter balance weight 41 thus reducing the resistance of the several parts to a minimum. It is obvious that when the speed of my device becomes too great that said gate 37 will be lowered thus stopping the current between the scows 1 and 2 which will reduce the force of water against said blades 9 and will reduce the power derived therefrom. It will be seen that when desired to transfer my device to a new mooring that the scows may be pumped out thus drawing the blades 9 out of the water facilitating towin I have shown anchor bolts 42 secured to the scows 1 and 2 and adapted to receive mooring chains 43 which are anchored to the bed of the stream to hold my device in the currents, to brace and stiffen the blades 9 I have provided braces 46 and slip braces 47, said slip braces 47 secured to said chain 11 and being adapted to yield to any discrepancy in the disposition of the attachment joint-s 48. I have also provided tightening wedges 45 and bolts 106 adapted to take up the slack in said chains 10, 11 and 12.

The braces 46 are secured to the outer attachment joints provided at the ends of the blades and the slip braces 47 are secured to the center attachment joints which are secured to the center of the blades, thus if there is a discrepancy in the alinement of the joints which would tend to cause binding therein, the sliding properties of said center slip brace will not put imdue strain on the joints as the end braces 46 form the said support and will not bind because of the springiness of said blades. It may be desirable, however, to have but one brace 46. and two slip braces 47 which may bedisposed at the ends of the blades in the place of said braces 46. It is obvious that little'stress is appliedto the back of said blades and that the front will receive the impact of the water. The shaft 26 may be provided with a drive pulley 44 to convey power from said shaft.

I do not wish to be limited to this specific construction herein set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings but wish to depart from such details as are within the scope of my patent.

I do not wish to be limited to mounting my device upon scows as it may be desired to utilize a fiume or a small creek where the whole of the water in said creek will act upon blades 9, the brace guides 17 being anchored in a creek bed.

I have shown blades 9 which are provided with a notch 110 into which chain is secured thus allowing a portion of the said blades to extend above the chain and to travel on either side of the sprockets and idlers thus forming a counter-balance portion and causing a more direct strain upon the chains of my device. I

The frame work 16 is comprised of lateral frames 23 having uprights 100 connected by laterals 101 and are braced by diagonal braces 102 as well as a Vertical center brace 103. Said laterals 101 are rigidly secured to the beams 104, the ends of which are provided with the end pieces 105 having said bearings 29 secured thereto. Said uprights 100 are disposed to rest against said brace guides 17 which are secured to said scows 1 and 2 to permit vertical adjustment of the frame work 16.

The scows l and 2 are provided with the notches 111 and 112 which are adapted to permit vertical travel of the framework 16. The beams 104 are connected to the end pieces 105 by the extension pieces 113 which form a part of said frame-work 16 and are bent to lie on the outside of the sprocket wheels 13 and 14 thus forming an oflfset in said framework 16 whereby the bearings 29 may be placed on the outside ends of the shafts 26 and 26.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a current motor of the nature indicated, a pair of scows having braced guides 17, means for connecting said scows, a divergent surface between said scows at their up stream end, a suitable framework adapted to support idlers and sprockets, chains traveling thereon, blades secured to aforesaid chains, braces adapted to rigidly support said blades against the action of the current, a center brace adapted to yield or overcome discrepancies in the pivotal connection or attachment joints of said braces substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a current motor, the combination of a pair of scows having braced guides 17,

means for connecting said scows, a divergent surface between said scows at their up stream end, a suitable framework adapted to support idlers and sprockets, bolts for taking up the wear of the chains traveling thereon, blades secured to aforesaid chains, braces adapted to rigidly support said blades against the action of the current, a center brace adapted to yield or overcome discrepancies in the pivotal connection or attachment joints of said braces, and means for stopping the sprocket-wheels 13 and 1 1 from revolving when a portion of the chains become slackened or broken all substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a current motor, a pair of scows having braced guides 17, means for connecting said scows, a diverging surface between said scows at their up stream end, a suitable framework adapted to support idlers and sprockets, chains traveling thereon, blades secured to aforesaid chains, braces adapted to rigidly support said blades against the action of the current, a center brace adapted to yield or overcome discrepancies in the pivotal connection or attachment joints of said braces, means for stopping the sprocket-wheels 13 and 14 from revolving when a portion of the chains become slackened or broken by means of brakes having levers, the free ends of said levers being attached to weights provided with rests, a trip hook adapted to normally support said weight by said rest, said trip hook being operated by weighted rolls adapted to rest on and to be supported by said chains, a suitable means for connecting said weighted rolls and said trip hooks, a shaft whereby power may be transmit-ted and means for connecting said sprockets thereto, all substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth 4. In a current motor of the nature indicated, an adjustably mounted framework provided with journals adapted to support sprockets and idlers having chains traveling thereon, means for taking the slack or wear up on said chains pivotally connected braced blades secured to said chains, means for connecting sprockets which are secured to a shaft to a drive pulley, a scow adapted to support said adjustably mounted framework, weighted rolls connected to trip hooks, the said weighted rolls being supported by said chains, said trip hooks adapted to support a weight operated brake, the said weighted rolls adapted to release the support or trip hooks to set said brakes when said chains are broken.

5. In a breast current motor of the nature indicated having chains provided with blades secured thereto, said chains being adapted to travel upon sprockets and idlers, a recess adapted to permit a portion of the said blades to extend substantially on each side of the said chains and adapted to travel on each side of said sprockets and idlers, a Weight operated stopping mechanism comprising a trip hook, a weighted roll and a weight actuated brake band all substantially as shown for the purpose set forth.

6. In a breast current motor of the nature indicated having chains provided with blades secured thereto, said chains being adapted to travel upon the sprockets and idlers, a recess to permit a portion of the said blades to extend substantially on each side of the said chains and adapted to travel 011 each side of the said sprockets and idlers, a weight operated stopping mechanism com prising a trip hook, a weighted roll and a weight actuated brake band, a suitable raising and lowering means comprising crank operated shafts or drums to raise the framework supporting said sprockets and idlers, an auxiliary lowering means comprising a ratchet wheel and lever, a pinion and rack secured to said framework.

7. In a breast current motor of the nature indicated having chains provided with blades secured thereto, said chains being adapted to travel upon the sprockets and idlers, a recess adapted to permit a portion of the said blades to extend substantially on each side of the said sprocket and idlers, a weight operated stopping mechanism comprising a trip hook, weighted rolls and weight actuated brake bands, a suitable raising and lowering means comprising crank operated shafts or drums to raise the framework supporting said sprockets and idlers, an auxiliary lowering means comprising a ratchet wheel and lever, a pinion and rack secured to said framework, scows adapted to be moored in the breast of the current or stream, drop walls converging at their up stream ends to form a flume or casing therebetween to restrict and confine a portion of said stream to act upon said blades.

8. In a current motor, a pair of scows having braced guides 17, means for connecting said scows, a divergent surface between said scows at their up stream end, a suitable framework adapted to support idlers and sprockets, a chain traveling thereon, braces adapted to rigidly support said blades against the action of the current, a center brace adapted to yield or overcome discrepancies in the pivotal connection or attachment joints of said braces, means for stopping the sprocket-wheels 13 and 14 from revolving when a portion of the chains become slackened or broken by means of brakes having levers, the free ends of said levers being attached to weights provided with rests, a trip hoop adapted to normally support said weight by said rest, said trip hook being operated by weighted rolls adapted to rest on and to be supported In testimony whereof I have signed my by said chains, a suitable means for connect name to this specification in the presence of ing said weighted rolls and said trip hooks, two subscribin witnesses.

b means for connecting sprockets which are CHARLES ARTHUR MASON. secured to a shaft to a drive pulley all sub- Witnesses:

stantially as shown and for the purpose set CHAS. MEYER, forth. H. E. TALBOT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. 

